Machine for making radiators and other structures



Jan. 6, 1931. T. E. MURRAY, JR. ET AL 8,

MACHINE FOR MAKING RADIATORS AND OTHER STRUCTURES Filed. Feb. 27, 1926 sShets-Sheet 1 avwewbom 7 Jan. 6, 1931. T. E. MURRAY, JR.. ET AL MACHINEFOR MAKING RADIATORS AND OTHER STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 27 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 v avwvntoz s 5107/15 EJ/JRRA yL/ra rw H m Jan. 6, 1931.1-. E. MURRAY, JR.. ET AL 1,738,201

MACHINE FOR MAKING RADIATORS AND OTHER STRUCTURES File F 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMASE. I'UBRAY, .13., AND LE BOY H. HOI'IEB, OII' BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO METROPOLITAN COHP ANY, AOOBIORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINEERING IAOHINE II'OB MAKING BADIATOBB ANDOTHER STRUCTURES Application m February 2?, 1920. Serial no. 91,023.

' Our invention aims to provide means for forming and uniting the partsof a certain type of radiators and other structures. The accompanyingdrawings illustrate embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a radiator;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan and partial section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation and partial section of the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion'of -the radiating structure;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the machine for applying the radiatingstructure to the tubular vessel which carries the heating medium;

Fig. 6' is an end elevation of the same partly broken away;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a detail; 7 Fig. 8 is an end elevatio andFig. 9 is a side elevation of an alterna ive electrode.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation illustrating a diflerentstyle of radiator.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the vessel which carries the steam, hotwater or other heating medium is in the form iof a number of parallellengths 1 of tubingconnected at alternate ends by bends 2. The tubing isenclosed in the radiating structure except in the projecting ends whichcarry couplin s 3. These pipe ends may be 'at op osite an s of theradiator as illustrated,'or 0th at the same end, and the number oflengths of piping may be varied as well as the arrangement and method ofconnec'tin up the difierent lengths. The pipes may of wrought iron orsteel or copper orbrass or other suit-' able metal and may besubstituted by vesels of other shapes.

The radiating structure is made of sheet metal, referably thin sheets ofcopper corrugate in the horizontal plane and embracing the pipes orother vessels at the opposite sideswith a good contact so as toabsorb-heat efliciently therefrom; the corrugated form serving toprovide flues through which the air ascends as it is heated. In the.plan view, Fig. 2, it will be seen that the radiating structure-hasnarrow longitudinal portions 4 connected by oppositely inclinedoutwardly extending parts or lates 5 with narrow longitudinally exten'ng parts 6. These parts may be at various angles and of variousdimensions and may be curves merging into one another instead of thestraight lines shown: The parts at op osite sides of the radiator may bemade 0% a single sheet of metal extending over the end of the radiatoras at 7 so as to provide an attractive smooth finish at theend. The sameprinciple may be applied at. both ends, using separate plates whichoverlap or meet at an intermediate point.

The inner portions 4 of the radiating structure are brought into contactfrom opposite sides so as to embrace the pipe around its entirecircumference as shown in Fig. 3; thoughit is not essential that theycomplete- 1y surround the pipe and meet at the center.

.In order to embracethe pipe the parts 4 are pressed out to the roundedshape shown at 8, Fig. 4, the metal at the same time s'preadinglaterally as at 9, so as to increase the contact surface lengthwise ofthe pipe, and to bring the opposite corrugated plates close togetherwithout flattening the pipe.

In building the radiator the pipe is bent in an ordinary bending machineand the sheets of metal are corrugated and stamped to form the recessedportions 8 in any usual and suitable corrugating and stamping machinesand are then assembled and brought to the machine shown in. Figs. 5 and6. Before assembling, solder, tin or similar material is preferablyapplied to the recesses 8 for uniting the sheets to the pipe at thesepoints. Instead of soldering the parts, however, they may be weldedtogether, or brazed or otherwise united by heat and necessary pressure.I

The machine isdesigned to solder or otherwise unite the parts, acting inone operation on all the joints alon one of the plates 4 (nine joints oneach si e'where there are nine lengths of pipe as in the caseillustrated). There are two oppositely placed electrodes 10 and 11 madeof cast copper with embedded wrought iron pi s 12 which carry coolingfluid for preventln distortion by overheating. These electro es carrypressing blocks or bars 13 and 14 shaped to embrace the recessedportions of the radiator and press them around and against the pipe. Aview of one of said blocks, 13, is illustrated in Fig. '7 having arecess 15 in lts operative face for the purpose stated. The two opposedblocks are identical. The upper electrode being lifted, the assembledradlator parts are introduced to bring the first open corrugation on theunder side resting on the lower electrode or shaping blocks 13. Theupper electrode is then lowered to press the parts together and to passa current between the electrodes and through the work sufficiently tomelt the solder or to weld the parts to ether and a short heavy pressureis appli to complete the union. The upper electrode is then lifted andthe work shifted to brin the next line of 'oints over thelower 'electroe, whereupon t e previous operations are repeated. In this way each lineof joints in succession is made.

A number of lines of joints may be made at once by using what may becalled multiple electrodes. Such a bottom electrode is shown at 16 inFigs. 8 and 9 with three projecting portions 17 each carryin a separatecooling pipe 18 and each adapte to carry a separate set of pressingblocks. A correspondingly shaped upper electrode will be used so as tomake three lines of joints at once. The same principle may be applied tothe making of all the oints for a complete radiator at one operationwhere the radiator is small enough or the machine large enough and ofsuflicient power mechanically and electrically.

The machine comprises a combination of features which make itparticularly useful for this class of work and for similar soldering,brazing and weldin work. The bottom electrode-is mounte on the inner armor terminal 19 of the secondary of a transformer of the ordinar weldingtype, the opposite terminals 20 0 which carry conducting plates 21 withpairs of upright contact blades 22. The upper electrode is carried on apair of longitudinal bus bars 23 which at their ends have lateralextensions 24 carrying on their under side blocks 25 having downwardlyextending contact bars 26 registering with the contacts 22. When theupper electrode is, lifted sufiicientl to insert the work or to shift itfrom one ine of joints to the next the contacts 26 and 22 are so aratedfrom each other and the circuit is roken. When the upper electrode islowered, the circult is closed through the work and the latter is heatedas above described. The upper electrode and the bars 23 are united as bybolts 27 (Fig. 5) to a crosshead 28 having at its end guides 29 slidingin ways on the end posts 30 of the frame, which are united at the top bya cross brace 31. The crosshead 28 1s carried on the lower end of a rod32 connected to crossbars 38 which at their ends are connected to thecores 40 of powerful solenoids 41. The coils of these solenoids areconnected to a source of supply through a suitable switch,not necessaryto illustrate. It will be understood also that the admission of reliefvof the air ressure are controlled by the usual or suita le valves. p

The air cylinder is used chiefly for lifting the upper electrode. Whenthe work is in place the electrode may be lowered by merely relievingthe air pressure on the under side of the piston, allowing the partsto'descend by their weight. Pneumatic pressure may be applied to the topof the piston to force the electrode down. But in the final operation,the circuit of the solenoids is closed and this gives a quick powerfulaction such as is necessary to effect the take-up almostinstantaneously. Where solder is used it is important that the take-upshould occur quickly and fully as soon as the solder becomes fiuid. 'Anair cylinder and a solenoid or other electro-magnet form a veryeflicient combination for securing the long stroke and the shortpowerful take-up.

We have illustrated the machine as applying the radiating structure tocircular pipes of comparatively small diameter which have sufficientstrength -to resist the pressure without being materially distorted. Bysuitably modifying the shape of the pressing blocks 13 and 14 themachine may be used for applying corrugated plates or the like toconduits or vessels of other shaps and sizes; such, for example, as therectangular or lenticular vessels described in the co-pendingapplications of Thomas E. Murray, No. 725,559 filed July 12, 1924 andNo. 43,444, filed July 14, 1925. Where the wall of the pipe or vessel isso thin or is so shaped as to be distorted by the pressure, a mandrelmay be inserted q of copper, steel'or other material which willLisupport the vessel against collapsing and will at the same timeconduct heat and current.

The machine is adapted for applying to the vessel, not only thecorrugated plates above described, but also radiating structures ofother shapes; such for example as are shown in Fig. 10. Here for exampleare shown separate fins 42 ap lied to a pipe 1. The fins are providedwith anges 43 aving curved faces earing on the pipe at opposite sidesand soldered orwelded to the pipe at opposite sides by suitably shapedpressing blocks analogous to the blocks 13 and 14 of Fig. 6.

The contact blades 22 and 26 carry the current to the bus bars 23 whichdistribute the current evenly to the several pressing blocks 14, thecontacts being arranged to do this as the blocks come together about thework. It is ,not necessary to maintain the current while the parts arebeing pressed to' gether. The blocks may be heated .before-.

. firmly. In fact it is only necessary to apply the solder or tin to thesurface, to press the parts together in such a way as to preventdistortion, and during such pressure, to apply sufiicient heat to meltthe solder or tin.

t is advantageous to chill or cool the solder promptly. This can be doneby blowing air through the pipe or vessel. The machine is provided forthis purpose with a flexible hose 44 connected to the air pressure pipe45.

After each soldering operation, or a certain number of suchoperations,the workman will insert the nozzle 46 into the end of the pipe 1 andblow air through it. This hardens the solder and quickly cools theentire structure to a working temperature. Instead of connecting thehose to the ressure pipe, it may be connected to the .ex aust port 37 ofthe air cylinder, to blow air whenever the upper electrode is lifted.

It is preferable to use for the pressing blocks 13 and 14'metal of ahigher resistance than that of the electrodes 10 and 11 so as to get anincreased heating effect. This is important where the joints are closetogetheron a pipe. In extreme cases, for example where the corrugationsare only half an inch apart or the joints spaced a half inch be tweencenters, it is advisable to solder all the oints at once in order toprevent the heat from one operation melting the solder from the jointpreviously made.

The same conditions ma be taken care of by leavinglan air passageetweentheinside edges of t e corrugations, the flat portions 4 of Fig.2. This g1ves us anextra radiating surface to carry ofi the heat raidly. The spacing between the parts 4 may be varied by varying the de thof the. depressions 8.

In a co-pending application of Thomas E. Murray, No. 96,699, filed March23, 1926,

there is described a radiator in which an elec-' tric resistance heatingelement .of cylindrical shape is combined with a radiating structure ofcorrugated plates in the same way as the steam pipes illustrated.

Radiators of the type described are not claimed in the presentapplication, being covered in prior applications, particularly those ofThomas E. Murray, No. 709,080, filed April 26, 1924; 'Thomas E. Murray,No. 42,903, filed July 11, 1925 and Thomas E.

Murray, Jr. No. 48,929, filed August 8, 1925.

The product is referred to as a radiator,

but it will be understood that structures made on the same principle maybe used not only for transferring heat or cold from the vessel to theair or other surrounding medium, but equally for transferring heat orcold from the surrounding medium through the radiating structure to thefluid within the vessel, as in the case of condensers in re- Ifrigerating plants, for example. And in either case the medium withinthe vessel may be admitted at one end and discharged at the other, ormay be admitted and discharged through the same end as in the so-calledonepipe radiators. And the invention may be applied to the making ofvarious other structures where parts are to be soldered, brazed, weldedor otherwise united by heat and pressure.

No claim is made herein to the described combination of a fluid pressuremotor and a solenoid; this bein claimed in a co-pendin application of Homes No. -127 ,202, filed August 5, 1926. y

It is not always necessary to weld or solder the lates of the radiatingstructure to the heatlng element. directly. The plates 4 may be welded0r soldered together at points above and below the heating elements soas to clamp the latter firmly between the plates,

the electrodes in that case bearing on the intermediate portions of theplates 4 but not on the rounded portions 8 which embrace the tubes.

In some cases a' radiating structure is applied to only one side of theheating elements, a strap being passed around the other side and itsends welded to the part 4 of the radiating structure.- In other cases,where the radiating structure is applied to both sides from theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What we claim is 1. A machine for uniting to a heating element of aradiator pieces of sheet metal having recessed portions fitting aboutsaid heating element, said machine including in combination a pair ofopposed electrodes elongated to extend over a line of joints to be madebetween the sheet metal and different sections of the heating element,pressing devices carried by the electrodes shaped to I engage the workat each joint in the line between the heating elements and about theheating elements, means for moving the opposed electrodes and pressingdevices toward each other to force the sheet metal pieces into closecontact with the several sections of the heating element and withopposite sheet metal between the sections of heating ele- 5 ment andmeans for passing a current between the electrodes and through the workto fix the parts of the latter in place.

2. A machine for uniting to a tubular element of a radiator pieces ofsheet metal of extended surface for conducting the heat from said tubeand transmitting it to the air, said machine including in combinationmeans for uniting the parts by heat and pressure in a succession ofoperations at different points and means for passing a cooling mediumthrough the tube to cool the work after each such operation.

3. A machine for uniting two opposite corrugated sheets to an interposedheating element extending transversel across the corrugations, saidmachine inc uding in combination opposed electrodes adapted to enter thegrooves in the outer faces of the two sheets and to press the innersurfaces of such grooves into close contact with the heating element andthe inner surfaces of opposed plates into contact between said grooves,means for passing a current between the electrodes and through the workand thereby fixing the parts of the latter in place and means for searating the electrodes to ermit the shifting of the work laterally toliring the next grooves in the outer faces of the corrugated sheets intoalignment with the electrodes. In witness whereof, we have hereuntosigned our names.

THOMAS E. MURRAY, JR. LE ROY H. HQFFER.

